Cray Wanderers play the first of a double header of matches against Essex sides with a visit to Aveley looking to keep in contact with the playoffs against a Millers side second in the Isthmian Premier.
The match takes place on Non League Day, the annual event which raises money for Prostate Cancer UK and a huge tradition in raising the profile of non-league football on a weekend with no Premier League or Championship games for the international break.
The Wands head to fifth placed Billericay Town next Saturday eight points behind Billericay Town who themselves are five behind Aveley with Chatham Town and Brentwood Town also in the playoff mix.
Cray head to Parkside on the back of two straight clean sheet wins with a narrow but merited 1-0 victory against Potters Bar Town last Saturday. The Wands winner came half way through the first half courtesy of Ola Ogunwamide’s second goal for the club but despite coming close on a few occasions to make the win more comfortable Cray saw out the game to move up to seventh in the table on fifty eight points and are three behind sixth placed Dartford and level on points with Burgess Hill Town in eighth.
The back to back clean sheets was also a bonus which despite the absence of Remi Sutton for those games saw Quade Taylor partner Tom Bonner and after an enforced substitution against Potters Bar Town Crossley Lema settled nicely in the back four with the ever consistent Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera and Frankie Morgan alongside and the experience of Harry Seaden in goal.
Up front Alex Hernandez with seventeen goals for the season remains in contention for the Golden Boot level with Leo Sery of St Albans City and two behind Daniel Ogunleye of Brentwood Town and one behind Jake Hutchinson of Folkestone Invicta.
There was some good news with Max Fiddes loan spell from Dover Athletic being extended until the end of the season and the striker is sixth currently in the goal standings with fourteen one behind Folkestone’s Joe Pigott.
The Wands away form has been very good this season with just two defeats in eighteen games played but will face a tough challenge against an Aveley side who are unbeaten at home in thirteen league games.
There is a scenario where a Wands win on Saturday coupled with a Folkestone Invicta win against Carshalton Athletic would mean promotion and the title for Invicta but certainly this task will be easier said than done.
Last Saturday Aveley bounced back from the defeat at Billericay Town on 14th March with a solid 3-0 win at home to Cheshunt. Toby Aromolaran who netted twice as a substitute when the Wands hosted Aveley on 9th January also netted two goals with Jesse Nwabueze also on target.
Aveley after going without a league win at home in their first six games have been unbeaten since and began a climb up the table and now you would think seem certain at least of one of the playoff places and seek an instant return to the National South after relegation last season. At home Aveley have beaten Lewes (3-0), Ramsgate (5-0), Wingate & Finchley (2-0), Canvey Island (3-1), Welling United (2-1), Cray Valley PM (3-0), Dulwich Hamlet (2-1), Potters Bar Town (2-0), Whitehawk (4-2) and Cheshunt (3-0).
Brett Munyard’s team drew with Brentwood Town (1-1), Burgess Hill Town (3-3), St Albans City (1-1), Dartford (1-1), Billericay Town (3-3) and Chichester City (2-2). Their only defeats came early in the season against Chatham Town (0-2) and Folkestone Invicta (2-5).
When the teams met on 9th January Aveley performed as well as any team has this season at Flamingo Park to win 3-0 with goals in the latter stages of the game from Fletcher Hubbard and two from Aromolaran. Leading scorer is Ollie Peters with thirteen goals.
The Wands first ever Isthmian Premier League game was at Aveley at their old Mill Field ground which coincidentally was Aveley’s first game in the league on 15th August 2009 ending in a 1-1 draw with Colin Luckett levelling for Cray from the penalty spot in the second half. The last league meeting at Parkside was on 21st January 2023 with Cray winning 1-0 with a Tom Derry first half header.
With so much still to play for in the remaining weeks of the season this promises to be one of the games of the day one which both sides can go into with confidence.
Admission Prices
£14 adults, £10 concessions (12-17/Seniors over 65/Students), £5 U16s
Please note for Non-League Day Aveley offer £5 entry for season ticket holders of Premier League through to National South clubs. Aveley dedicate this match to Prostate Cancer UK and there will be collections and events taking place for the charity.
Match Programme: Printed
Playing Surface: 3G
Pictures supplied by Natalie Stribbling.